> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://news.theresarobotforthat.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # IHMC unveils Alex, a new electric humanoid robot - URL: https://news.theresarobotforthat.com/ihmc-unveils-alex-a-new-electric-humanoid-robot/ - Published: 2025-12-02T11:30:49.000Z - Updated: 2025-12-02T11:30:48.000Z - Description: PLUS: Robotera raises $140M, Tesla poaches Apple vet, and rent a robot for $18 an hour - Author: Ulrich Baldauf - Tags: Newsletter ## Welcome back to your Robot Briefing The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition just introduced Alex, an electric humanoid built to leave the lab behind and tackle stairs, hills, and disaster zones where hydraulic robots fear to tread. Funded by the Office of Naval Research, Alex trades tethered power for battery packs and outdoor mobility. This shift from hydraulic testbeds to field-ready electric systems raises a critical question: are we finally at the point where humanoid robots can operate alongside humans in high-risk environments, or is the gap between laboratory demos and real-world reliability still too wide to cross? In today's Robot update: IHMC's electric humanoid Alex goes outdoors Robotera secures $140M and partners with UN Tesla recruits Apple robotics engineer for Optimus Rent warehouse robots for $18 per hour News ### Meet Alex: IHMC's New Electric Humanoid **Snapshot:** The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition has unveiled Alex, [a next-generation electric humanoid robot](https://www.ihmc.us/news20251119/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) designed to replace its hydraulic predecessor, Nadia, marking a significant shift toward more efficient and mobile robotics for real-world applications. Breakdown: Alex runs on **electric power** rather than hydraulics, making it lighter and battery-operated so it can venture outdoors to test navigation on stairs, hills, rough terrain, and ladders beyond laboratory walls. The **Office of Naval Research** funded this multi-year, multimillion-dollar project to advance capabilities in outdoor urban operations, building exploration, and disaster response scenarios where human risk is high. Research teams aim to push Alex toward **human-level speeds** so humanoid robots can keep pace with real-world operations, from military scenarios to emergency response situations. **Takeaway:** Alex represents a practical evolution in humanoid robotics, transitioning from experimental testbeds to field-ready systems that can operate autonomously in challenging environments. The shift to electric power and outdoor capabilities signals that humanoid robots are moving closer to serving as integrated team members in high-risk situations where keeping humans safe is paramount. News ### Robotera Lands $140M for Embodied AI **Snapshot:** Beijing-based startup Robotera secured nearly $140 million in Series A+ funding to accelerate mass production of its general-purpose humanoid robots. The company also partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to advance industrial intelligence and support sustainable development goals. Breakdown: Robotera signed a strategic cooperation agreement with [UNIDO](https://www.unido.org/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) focusing on three core areas: deploying embodied intelligence systems in manufacturing and logistics, launching cross-border robotics projects, and building innovation ecosystems through the Beijing Digital Economy Centre of Excellence. The company's **full-size humanoid** demonstrated autonomous walking in snow and set records at the World Humanoid Robot Games with a 4.8-foot long jump and 3.1-foot high jump, while its XHAND 1 dexterous hand can manipulate over 100 distinct tools. Geely Capital led the funding round with participation from BAIC Capital and support from **global industrial leaders** including Alibaba Group and Haier Capital, positioning Robotera to iterate its robots and enable mass production across its full portfolio. **Takeaway:** This partnership signals how Chinese robotics innovation is increasingly aligning with global development priorities, potentially accelerating robot deployment in regions that need industrial modernization most. The substantial funding and UN backing give Robotera both capital and credibility to scale its humanoid and dexterous hand technologies for real-world applications. News ### Tesla Poaches Apple Robotics Vet for Optimus **Snapshot:** Tesla has recruited Yilun Chen, a [robotics engineer who spent nearly four years at Apple](https://eletric-vehicles.com/tesla/tesla-hires-former-apple-robotics-researcher-for-optimus-humanoid-team/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com), to join its Optimus humanoid robot team in Palo Alto. Breakdown: Chen brought **deep expertise** from Apple's robotics research team, where he worked on embodied AI covering foundation models, simulation systems, visual language architectures, dexterous manipulation, and humanoid whole body control, plus three prior years developing autonomous vehicle technology in Apple's Special Project Group. Chen cited the convergence of **large language models and Physical AI** as his primary motivation for the move, writing that humanoids represent "the ultimate dream of our generation" and praising Tesla's combination of software, hardware and AI capabilities after visiting the Optimus laboratory. Tesla plans to build 1 million Optimus units in Fremont with **10 million units annually** in Texas by the time mass production of the third-generation robot begins in 2027, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that Optimus volume production will drive major valuation changes for the company. **Takeaway:** This hire signals Tesla's commitment to competing aggressively in the humanoid robotics space by attracting top talent from established tech companies. Chen's experience spanning autonomous vehicles, robotics research, and AI positions him to accelerate Optimus development at a critical moment when hardware capabilities are finally catching up to AI advances. News ### Rent a Robot Worker for $18 an Hour **Snapshot:** MIT spinout [Tutor Intelligence](https://tutorintelligence.com/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) raised $34 million to expand its robots-as-a-service model, deploying AI-powered robots that stack boxes for an hourly rate competitive with human labor. Breakdown: The company offers a **pay-per-hour model** similar to cloud software subscriptions, eliminating upfront capital costs and allowing manufacturers to fund robots from their operating budgets rather than capital expenditures. Tutor's robots can lift boxes weighing up to **42 pounds** and place 14 boxes per minute across three shifts without breaks, targeting high-turnover roles where human workers face fatigue and injury risks. The startup has deployed robots coast-to-coast with backing from Union Square Ventures, bringing its total funding to $42 million as it scales a model designed to gather real-world data and build what CEO Josh Gruenstein calls a "central robot intelligence." **Takeaway:** This pricing strategy directly challenges traditional automation economics by making robotic workers accessible without massive upfront investments. The data flywheel created by widespread deployment positions Tutor to continuously improve its AI while customers pay only for productive hours. ### Other Top Robot Stories **China** [continues](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/business/china-factory-robots.html?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) its dominance in industrial automation, installing hundreds of thousands of robots across manufacturing facilities. The scale of deployment underscores the country's commitment to advanced manufacturing capabilities. **As surgical robotics** [advances](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/innovation/elon-musk-says-tesla-robot-will-perform-superhuman-surgeries/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) questions emerge about the role of autonomous systems in operating rooms. New developments suggest robots may take on increasingly sophisticated medical procedures. **The University of Florida** [established](https://news.ufl.edu/2025/10/ai-center-aims-to-help-florida-farmers/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) a new research center focused on applying robotics and artificial intelligence to agriculture, addressing labor shortages and productivity challenges in farming. **🤖 Your robotics thought for today:** What's a problem you've solved with a creative workaround that a robot might actually do better—and should you let it? Tell me – what do you think? Until tomorrow, Uli